Osceola County, Florida Eviction Risk: Low

Osceola County carries an average eviction-risk score of 2.6/10 (Low), yet that headline figure sits at rank 2 of 67 Florida counties, meaning only one county in the state scores higher. Landlords should read that carefully: a Low label does not mean this market is relaxed. Across the county's 7 cities, the score spread runs from 2.4 to 2.8, and the county lands squarely in the higher-risk third of Florida as a whole. With a total population of 260,569, average rents around $1,742 per month, and a rent-burden rate of 37%, the tenant base is financially stretched, which feeds the collection and eviction pressure that pushes Osceola above most of its state peers.

The county's renter share of 41.7% and a poverty rate of 13.9% reinforce the picture of a market where demand is durable but tenant financial stress is above average. Investors who have operated in neighboring Orange County (score 3.8) or Seminole County (score 3.26) will find Osceola familiar territory, though its state ranking demands that landlords keep their lease enforcement and screening practices sharp from day one.

The cities inside Osceola County

Risk within Osceola County is sharply uneven. Four Corners, with a population of 65,048, posts the county's highest score at 4.4/10, making it the most landlord-challenging market in the county. Close behind is Kissimmee, the county's largest city at 81,479 residents, scoring 4.1/10. Both cities carry meaningful rent-collection risk relative to the county average, and landlords operating in either market should budget accordingly for eviction carrying costs. Campbell (pop. 2,123) scores 2.8/10, rounding out the higher-risk tier.

On the other end of the range, St. Cloud (pop. 65,130) scores 2.4/10, the lowest in the county and a notably more landlord-friendly operating environment. Celebration (pop. 13,667) at 2.4/10 and Yeehaw Junction at 2.4/10 also fall well below the county average. The gap between Four Corners at 4.4 and St. Cloud at 2.8 is wide enough to materially affect acquisition decisions, and the hyper-local nature of that spread means county-level averages should never substitute for city-level due diligence.

State-level laws that apply here

Florida state law governs every tenancy in Osceola County under Fla. Stat. § 83 Part II (Residential Tenancies). For non-payment of rent, landlords must issue a 3-day notice to pay or vacate under Fla. Stat. § 83.56(3). Material non-compliance violations, whether curable or non-curable, require a 7-day notice. Month-to-month tenancies require 15 days notice to terminate at end of lease. Under a 2024 update (Fla. Stat. § 82.036, HB-621), squatters and unauthorized occupants with no rental agreement can be removed with no notice period. An uncontested eviction typically resolves in 20 to 30 days; contested proceedings extend to 45 to 110 days. Court filing fees run $185 to $400, sheriff lockout fees $90 to $175, and attorney fees commonly range $750 to $3,500, so a contested case can easily reach the higher end of those combined figures. For full procedural detail, the Florida eviction process guide covers each step. Florida state law also preempts all local rent-control ordinances under FL Stat §125.0103, and no just-cause requirement applies to non-renewals, giving landlords meaningful flexibility that affects the Florida eviction costs calculus versus tenant-protective states. Source-of-income is not a protected class under state law, though landlords should verify local ordinances independently.

With 13.9% of Osceola County residents below the poverty line and renters making up 41.7% of households, underlying financial stress is a consistent factor across the county, though individual city scores in the grid above show where that pressure is highest and lowest.